Rose plant named ‘Evera 118’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of rose plant named ‘Evera 118’, characterized by its upright and rounded plant habit; dark green-colored leaves; large double rich red purple-colored flowers; flowers held upright on strong and erect peduncles; and good postproduction longevity.

Botanical designation: Rosa hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘Evera 118’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of the Rose class, botanically known as Rosa hybrida, commercially known as a potted Rose and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Evera 118’.

The new Rose plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Denmark. The objective of the breeding program was to develop new potted Rose cultivars with novel and attractive flower colors, disease resistance and excellent postproduction longevity.

The new Rose plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor on May 10, 2001 of two unnamed proprietary Rosa hybrida seedlings, not patented. The cultivar Evera 118 was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled environment in Denmark. Plants of the new cultivar differ primarily from plants of the parent selections primarily in flower color.

Asexual reproduction of the new Rose plant by cuttings in Denmark since Aug. 1, 2003, has shown that the unique features of this new Rose plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new Rose plant has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary significantly with variations in environment such as temperature and light level, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Evera 118’. These characteristics in combination distinguish the new Rose plant as a new and distinct cultivar:

-   -   1. Upright and rounded plant habit.     -   2. Dark green-colored leaves.     -   3. Large double rich red purple-colored flowers.     -   4. Flowers held upright on strong and erect peduncles.     -   5. Good postproduction longevity.

Plants of the new Rose plant can be compared to plants of the Rose cultivar Pink Ever, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Denmark, plants of the new Rose differed from plants of the cultivar Pink Ever in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Rose were not as outwardly spreading as         plants of the cultivar Pink Ever.     -   2. Flowers of plants of the new Rose had smaller flowers with         fewer petals than flowers of plants of the cultivar Pink Ever.     -   3. Plants of the new Rose and the cultivar Pink Ever differed in         flower coloration.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate typical specimens of the vegetative growth and flowers of the new Rose plant, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which more accurately describe the actual colors of the new Rose plant.

The photograph at the top of the sheet comprises a side perspective view of typical plants of the new Rose plant grown in a container in Denmark.

The photographs at bottom of the sheet comprises close-up views of the upper (left) and lower (right) surfaces of typical flowers and leaves of the new Rose plant.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following observations and measurements describe plants grown in Denmark in 12-cm containers in a glass greenhouse and under conditions which closely approximate commercial production conditions during the summer. Plants used for the description were about 15 weeks old. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Classification:     -   -   Botanical.—Rosa hybrida cultivar Evera 118.         -   Commercial.—Potted Rose. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Unnamed proprietary seedling, not             patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Unnamed proprietary seedling, not             patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—Terminal or stem cuttings.         -   Time to rooting.—8 to 10 days with soil temperatures of 20°             C.         -   Root description.—Fine; freely branching. -   Plant description:     -   -   Form.—Upright and rounded plant habit.         -   Plant height.—About 26 cm.         -   Plant width.—About 18 cm.         -   Growth habit.—Vigorous; suitable for 12-cm containers.         -   Stem description.—Branching habit: About two to four lateral             branches per plant. Lateral branch length: About 16 to             22 cm. Lateral branch diameter: About 5 mm. Internode             length: About 1.5 to 2 cm. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color:             144A. Thorns: Quantity: Sparse. Length: About 6 mm.             Diameter: About 6 mm. Shape: Roughly deltoid. Color,             immature: 144C. Color, mature: 179D.         -   Foliage description.—Arrangement: Alternately; compound with             typically three to five leaflets per leaf, generally             symmetrical. Leaf length: About 9 cm to 10 cm. Leaf width:             About 6 cm. Leaflet length: About 1.8 to 4.1 cm. Leaflet             width: About 1.2 to 3.1 cm. Shape: Ovate. Apex: Acuminate.             Base: Obtuse. Margin: Serrate. Venation pattern: Pinnate;             reticulate. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,             glabrous; leathery. Petiole length: About 1.5 to 2 cm.             Petiole diameter: About 1 mm. Petiole texture, upper and             lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Developing foliage,             upper surface: 137A. Developing foliage, lower surface:             Closest to 147B. Fully expanded foliage, upper surface:             Between 137A and 147A. Fully expanded foliage, lower             surface: Closest to 147B. Venation, upper surface: 146A.             Venation, lower surface: 146C. Petiole, upper and lower             surfaces: 146A to 146B. Stipules: Shape: Lanceolate; apex,             acuminate; base, truncate; margin, serrate. Length: About             4 mm. Width: About 0.8 mm. Texture, upper and lower             surfaces: Leathery, smooth. Color, upper surface: Closest to             147A. Color, lower surface: Closest to 137A. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type and habit.—Large double rich red purple-colored             flowers. Consistently symmetrical rosette flowers that are             hemispherical in shape. Flowers borne singly on erect and             strong peduncles; about two flower buds and flowers per             lateral branch. Flowers persistent.         -   Flowering season.—Year-round under greenhouse conditions,             optimal flowering from spring through autumn under garden             conditions; flowering intermittent.         -   Flower diameter.—About 4 to 5 cm.         -   Flower depth (height).—About 2 to 2.5 cm.         -   Flower longevity on plant.—About two weeks.         -   Fragrance.—Slight; typical of Rosa.         -   Flower buds (at stage of showing color).—Shape: Ovoid.             Length: About 2 cm. Diameter: About 1 cm. Color: 146B to             146C.         -   Petals.—Quantity: About 25 per flower. Length: About 1.5 to             2.8 cm. Width: About 0.9 to 3.3 cm. Shape: Broadly obovate.             Apex: Rounded; retuse. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; satiny.             Color: When opening and fully opened, upper surface: 63A;             color becoming closer to 61C with development. When opening             and fully opened, lower surface: 57B; towards the base,             close to 62D.         -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: Typically five. Calyx length:             About 2 cm. Calyx diameter: About 8 mm. Shape: Linear;             falcate. Apex: Sharply pointed. Base: Truncate. Texture,             upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent. Color, upper and lower             surfaces: Close to 137A.         -   Peduncles.—Strength: Strong, but flexible. Aspect: Mostly             erect. Length: About 3 to 3.5 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm.             Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: 146C.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity: About 100 per             flower. Anther length: About 3 mm. Anther shape: Oval.             Anther color: 165B. Pollen color: 167A to 167B. Pistils:             Quantity: About 38 per flower. Pistil length: About 4 mm.             Stigma color: 145C. Style color: 145D. Receptacle shape:             Cup-like. Receptacle size: About 7 mm by 6 mm. Receptacle             texture: Smooth, glabrous. Receptacle color: More green than             144A.         -   Seed/fruit.—Seed and fruit production has not been observed. -   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Rose have not been shown     to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Rose plants. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new rose have been shown to be     tolerant to temperatures from 0 to 45° C. 

1. A new and distinct rose plant named ‘Evera 118’, as illustrated and described. 